The Atlantic Region of the Public Service Alliance of Canada is pleased to provide an opportunity for Indigenous members to learn how they can navigate the structures of the PSAC. Our Communities, Our Union, Our Rights: an Introduction to the PSAC for Indigenous Members is designed for members who have had little or no previous involvement with their union and is a great first step to understanding how unions work for working people. This two-day training will provide members with a way of empowering themselves to effect change in their workplaces, communities and union.

The course will take place September 14-15, 2019. The location will be Membertou, Nova Scotia.

The objectives of the course include:

• To understand the role of unions in advancing Indigenous rights in our workplaces and communities;

• To examine the structure, resources and decision-making in the PSAC;

• To explore ways that participants can become more active in the

PSAC through their national, regional and local structures/bodies;

• To articulate and take steps towards developing an action plan to address Indigenous rights and issues.

This training session is open to PSAC members through the Atlantic region who self-identify as Indigenous and who haven’t taken this course in the past.

The policy is intended to assist members with family care costs incurred as a direct result of attending an authorized PSAC event.

Salary

Members who are scheduled to work during course hours or while traveling to and from a course are entitled to claim their salary. To do so, members must provide PSAC with a copy of their shift or compressed schedules. Members’ travel times must be preapproved.

Members who are scheduled to work during course hours or while traveling to and from a course and who are employed by Treasury Board, Canada Food Inspection Agency, Canada Border Services Agency and Parks Canada are asked to request Union Leave from their employer. We will provide you with a letter supporting this request, making it possible for your employer to bill the PSAC for your lost salary. Members who take Union Leave to attend a PSAC course will not experience an interruption in their regular pay.

All members with precarious and atypical status shall be paid up to 7.5 hours a day during the week from Monday to Friday, based on the duration of the event, as opposed to the employer-established work schedule. No remuneration will be provided during the weekend unless there is loss of salary on the weekend (e.g. shift schedule).

This policy was initially applied to members within the academic sector as a result of the approval of a 2012 Convention Resolution (Fin-045) for training activities; this has been expanded by the AEC (September 14, 2015 meeting) to include all precarious and atypical workers who participate in all types of events for union business from Monday to Friday (conferences, political action, etc.).

Definition of precarious and atypical status (as per administrative guidelines of Regulation 15):

Members who either have hours of work that are less than 35 hours per week and/or who receive remuneration as a set amount regardless of the number of hours they actually work.

Rates and Entitlements

Participants who live 40 km or fewer from the course location

Participants are entitled to claim $50 per day to offset the cost of transportation, parking and lunch. Receipts are not required.

Participants who live more than 40 km and fewer than 100km from the course location

Participants are entitled to claim mileage for transportation. They are also entitled to $50 per day to offset other costs like parking, lunch, etc. Receipts are not required.

Participants who live 100 km or more from the course location

Participants are considered in Travel Status and will be reimbursed in accordance with the PSAC National Travel Policy rates (for meals, transportation, accommodation and incidentals). Further information on the PSAC Travel Policy is here: http://psacunion.ca/psac-travel-policy

Information on hotel accommodations is forthcoming.

Members must keep all relevant receipts and may be asked to provide them.